Pupils of a local secondary school munched and marched their way to raise more than £30,000 for charity.

St George’s School in Harpenden organised two events, including a Big Curry event and a Great Curry Run, with all proceeds going to the Army Benevolent Fund.

St George’s Day saw nearly 1,000 curry lunches served up at the school, putting them top in the country as the biggest event of its kind.

The school was joined by 4th Battalion, The Rifles, 2nd Battalion Royal Anglican Regiment, and the Royal Medical Corps who gave them an insight into the services.

The day saw the school field transformed into an army camp, with real-life army equipment, paintballing exercises, camouflage paint and army gear to try on.

The following Saturday saw pupils, parents and teachers take part in a walk or run spanning 25.8km to raise more funds.

The 497 pupils who took part walked, ran or cycled 10 metres for every British soldier killed or wounded in Afghanistan. They were each given the name of a killed or wounded soldier in whose memory they were competing.

St George’s deputy head, Paddy Storrie, said: “It’s really sad that in 2011 we had to run 19km, and it has been going up by about 2km each time, reflecting the 200 or so soldier service people killed or wounded each year.”

He said he had never met the soldier for whom he was running, Trooper Jack Sadler, but he had gone to his school in Devon.

Brigadier Robin Bacon from ABF added: “We are delighted that, yet again, St George’s School is at the forefront of supporting our soldiers, former soldiers and their dependents, with their massive ‘Big Curry’ event on St George’s Day.”

In the fifth year running, the fundraising has totalled more than £150,000. Brigadier Bacon added: “The school’s ‘Big Curry’ is yet again the biggest of its kind in the country. We are hugely grateful.”

For more information or how to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/teams/greatcurryrun2014

Recently we, as a family (minus two of the kids), visited The Lodge RSPB reserve in Sandy, Bedfordshire. I had never been before, which is perhaps amiss of me as a birdwatcher as it is the headquarters of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or RSPB and only 45 minutes drive from home.